Rogers N. Fowler

Brewster Massachusetts,Our beloved father, Rogers Newton Fowler, 83, passed away peacefully at the Maplewood of Brewster Assisted Living Facility on Easter Sunday ,March 27th ,with all of his family by his side.Rogers was born in Springfield , MA on January 22, 1933, the son of the late Gertrude Rogers and Karl R. Fowler. He grew up in Springfield, MA, Evanston, IL and DeWitt, NY where he graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1951. After high school Rogers obtained a business degree at Nichols College in Dudley Mass. He met the love of his life, Gloria, in high school and the two were married on April 3, 1954. Rogers went to work for Kraft foods as a sales representative in Up-State NY and took up residence in East Syracuse, where he and Gloria started their family. Rogers job with Kraft brought them to the Clinton, NY area where he called on his future employer, Victory Markets of Norwich, NY. Once employed by Victory Markets Rogers and Gloria chose to move their family to Sherburne, NY, which became their home for the next 30 years. Rogers and Gloria purchased the former Records IGA Foodliner in 1973., following in the footsteps of his grandfather who founded in 1888 the Rogers Meat Market and Grocery in Quincy, Mass.Within a few years the stores' name was changed to the Sherburne Big M. Rogers work ethic, charm and wit, along with the help of his family and talented staff created a successful independent business that continues to thrive 43 years later. Rogers and Gloria purchased Hendrickson's Market in Earlville, NY in 1981 and renamed it the Earlville Little M. In 1987 the dream continued with the purchase of Rowe's Red and White grocery store in DeRuyter, NY. That store became the DeRuyter Big M, which remains today.Rogers and Gloria retired in 1994 and their love of travel brought them to many destinations as well as several new homes over the next 22 years. At various times they resided in North Carolina, Arizona and Florida before finally settling, full time, in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where Rogers had spent summers throughout his life living and working with his uncle, developer Howard Rogers, in East Orleans and his uncle Leighton Rogers in Dennis.Rogers was always very proud of the communities in which he worked and lived and always showed it with his generosity to many organizations and his participation in Lions, Mason's and Rotary. If you had the opportunity to know him, you know how much Family and Communtity meant to him.Rogers is survived by his Loving wife of 62 years, Gloria, his son Ken and daughter-in-law Jayne of Brewster, MA, his son Tom and daughter-in-law Laurie of Cazanovia, NY, his son Jim and Daughter-in-law Barb of Sherburne, NY, grandchildren Zach, Ryan and Kate of central NY and, Lauren, Tyler, Jordan, Bradley and Emily of Brewster, Mass., as well as four Great Grandchildren.The Family wishes to express their thanks to the staff of Maplewood of Brewster and VNA Hospice, nurses and caregivers, for their kindness, compassion and support. Per Rogers request there will be no calling hours and the services will remain private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made, in Rogers memory, to any local SPCA or Hospice.